November 19, 2006 marked the date that further revolutionized the video game industry. This was the day the Nintendo Wii was released to the public. It exposed people to a physical interface that mimicked the action in games. As Jules states in, “Return to Player Space: The Success of Mimetic Interface Games”, mimetic interface games add “fun in new ways, because players can learn from watching each other, because failure becomes an enjoyable spectacle, and because the games thereby become more immediately social than those played with standard game controllers.” Indeed, the Wii’s allowance of mimetic action attracts much attention. According to www.vgchartz.com, of the current generation of home consoles, the Nintendo Wii leads in sales. To me, it seems as if every family household owns a Wii. To the masses, its intuitive control deems to be a major selling point. Unlike its recent predecessors or current competition, the Nintendo Wii features only a few buttons. The system emphasizes game events in player space. Instead of clicking buttons to hit a baseball, players act as if the Wiimote actually is the bat, and they simply swing away. This makes it more engaging to participate in. Mimetic games Dance, Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero boomed in popularity during their time. People were able to simulate dancing and playing guitar without holding a standard controller in their hand. Eventually, Rock Band allowed gamers the ability to sing, play drums, and play bass. Even different guitar models became available in stores for people to buy for their own aesthetic pleasure.
The interaction involved in playing the Nintendo Wii causes it to be more of a social activity than its competition: the XBOX360 and the Playstation 3. Anybody that has played WarioWare: Smooth Moves will know what I am talking about. Advertisements such as this one show that playing the Wii is a family bonding activity.
If you haven’t noticed, nobody in the commercial is playing alone. The commercial suggests the social aspects of playing the Wii. Do you think that consoles that utilize motion control like the Wii are the future of gaming, or like any other fad, the hype will slowly die down soon?
I think WII will be the future of gaming. it actually gave us a new point of view on games. for example, just like 5 years ago, there were no such a games that old people could play. However, As Wii made it possible for old people like parents to play games with their children, Nintendo brought new ways for game industry, and new costumer to game market. Console like Wii will lead the future of gaming, and show the way other consoles should follow
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